High-profile historians have teamed up to call on Scotland to reject a second independence referendum and stay part of the UK to help "renew and revitalise the union".

TV personalities Tom Holland and Dan Snow said they would feel "bereft" if Scotland was to leave the UK, and they are supporting the Scotland in Union campaign.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said following the Brexit vote that a second Scottish independence referendum is "highly likely".

In a joint statement, Holland and Snow said: "It may at first sight seem odd to have two Englishmen write this. Not too odd, though, we hope.

"Support for the aims of Scotland in Union is not confined to Scotland. Far from it. All of us across the United Kingdom who value the bonds which join its constituent nations have a stake in your success.

"In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a huge majority would feel bereft if the Scots were no longer to rank as our fellow citizens. Scotland in Union is for us, too.

"When nationalists both north and south of the border claim that they embody the future, they ignore the proven capacity of the union to evolve."

They added: "The campaign to renew and revitalise the union is not the prerogative of any one political party. It is a campaign in which all of us, no matter whom we may vote for in elections or where we live, are entitled to play our part.

"The spirit embodied by Scotland in Union is one that we are confident can revitalise the whole of the United Kingdom. It reminds us of what we have in common, not what separates us; of what can be accomplished in the future, as well as everything that together we have achieved in the past."

Alastair Cameron, director of Scotland in Union, said: "Anyone looking for a positive case for Scotland in the UK should listen to or read the powerful and inspiring words from people like Tom Holland and Dan Snow.

"Both Tom and Dan have a deep knowledge and understanding of our country's history and they predict with confidence the bright future we can have if we continue to work together."